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“I remember groaning and saying to myself, ‘I hope
whatever this bloke has is not contagious,
I’d hate to end up like him!’”
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I have great memories of growing up in Ringsend...football and fishing, various gangs at war with each other, exploring the locks, the docks, the ‘shelly-ers’ and the strand. The best memories for me were of enjoying being part of a loving and supportive family in a close knit community. All of us were brought up to attend to all of the sacraments of the church and to be careful to say our prayers. I remember when I was leaving primary school I was determined not to mess up my life but as I went through my teenage years I seemed to make every wrong decision and take every wrong path.
In my early twenties I was standing looking into the black waters of a canal in Amsterdam and wanting to throw myself into those waters and end it all. I felt that life had nothing to offer me and it wasn’t worth all of the struggle. Thank God I didn’t take that step but I remember feeling so dead and empty inside and yet putting a brave face out to the world.
Shortly after this I returned to Dublin and met this fellah from Ballyfermot who told me that he was a Christian. He was so enthusiastic and thrilled about his best friend Jesus and he wanted to talk all day to me. I remember groaning and saying to myself “I hope whatever this bloke has is not contagious, I’d hate to end up like him” I remember getting a copy of the New Testament from this fellah and walked off hoping I’d never see him again.
When I got home I sat in my bedroom and reluctantly started reading the first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John’s Gospel. I had for years been convinced that religion had no relevance for me and as a result I had dismissed Jesus from my life. It is hard to explain my reaction as I read in the gospels the things that Jesus said and the things that Jesus did. It’s not as if I hadn’t heard these things before but for the first time in my life I felt very powerfully challenged to consider that this incredible person called Jesus might be relevant to me right here right now to-day.
I started to attend some Bible studies and prayer meetings and slowly I began to feel drawn like a magnet to this awesome person Jesus Christ. Gradually all of the pieces began to fall into place in my heart and mind and I was willing to accept that what Jesus did on the cross was the full and final payment for all of my sins, past present and future. With 100% conviction I asked Jesus to come into my life and become real to me and take my miserable life into His hands and use it any way that He wanted to.
I quickly discovered that Jesus took me at my word and He has become a faithful, truthful and loving friend and Saviour to me. It is nearly twenty years later now, I am in my early forties, I have five incredible children and a gem of a wife. On top of all this I have had the privilege and challenge of working for Jesus in our society to-day. He has led my wife and I to work in various parts of Dublin’s inner city and share the hope of the gospel with many.
The Bible is full of invitations for us to experience the quality of life that God wants us to enjoy. Why don’t you pick up your Bible right now and give careful consideration to the following passages: Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good, - Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. - Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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Ordinary people in Ireland with Real life Experiences with God
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